EAEA’s Annual Events brought adult education professionals in Leipzig, Germany, on 3-4th June to reflect on flexible learning pathways, and how adult education can strengthen resilience by fostering participation in society.
The events gathered more than 150 people and were co-hosted by EAEA’s member DVV International and VHS Leipzig.
How to boost self-efficacy of learners
Keynote speaker at the General Assembly, Marina Weisband from Aula – a German organisation facilitating democratic participation, spoke about the emotional and political impact of shifting societal norms. The recent changes have caused stress and fear for many people.
“That’s when radical promises start sounding attractive,” Weisband stated.
In many countries, trust in democracy is eroding, fuelled by media logic that prioritises the negative and sensational. Weisband argues that this makes democratic adult education more important than ever, but it shouldn’t be learning about institutions.
“It’s about socialising people into a democratic role. Who am I in society? A consumer? A visitor? A victim? Or an active participant?” Weisband asked.
Weisband emphasised the need to counter learned helplessness through self-efficacy. People need to experience that they can change something. We need a place where people can come together as humans, not consumers, and where they can talk to others.
“Democracy education needs to be the way we do things, not some additional subject,” Weisband said.
She also noted that digitalisation is a powerful amplifier, but what it amplifies depends on who owns the platforms, and how they are used.
Creating islands of trust
As European societies face increasing complexity and polarisation, adult education can be a tool to strengthen social cohesion. A panel discussion at the EAEA General Assembly explored how adult learning can support “preparedness” and democracy, and what this means for developing flexible learning pathways.
Marta Jendeková from AIVD in Slovakia noted how deep polarisation in her country is linked to a lack of social cohesion.
“We need to create islands of trust, and then we can build towards democracy and citizenship,” said Jendekova.
Adult education can provide these spaces, where people can meet in the middle and learn from each other. Christian Soyk from VHS Leipzig shared an example on building a bridge between people and politics. In one initiative, adult learners spoke to citizens on the streets of Leipzig about political issues. Afterwards, they brought their questions directly to parliamentary candidates.
“We need to create enabling spaces,” said Soyk. “Adult learners should be able to take their own decisions. Our role is to support them in this.”
Defending values through adult education
Gustav Fridolin from the Swedish National Council of Adult Education reminded that while dialogue is important, not all views can be balanced.
“You can’t balance racism. The most important issue now is when to balance with the current political context, when to stand ground with the values of adult education,” said Fridolin. He also underscored the importance of building strong alliances to defend our values.
In times of crisis, adult learning has often found renewed purpose and direction. According to Per Paludan Hansen, many adult learning associations in Denmark were founded in response to national challenges. He stressed the need for unity:
“We have to unite to stand with a clear voice, be clear on our value messages, and adapt to the new situation.”
These themes of clarity, participation, and shared responsibility came up often in the discussions.
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer from the German Adult Education Association emphasised that many people sense instability or change beneath the surface of society but don’t know what it is and how to respond. Adult education empowers people first to have the right skills, and then by strengthening their resilience. People need to see their role in building the society.
“This place where are now living and able to thrive, comes with some cost. You are not a spectator, you are an active part of it. You have to defend this security,” stated Kramp.
Solidarity built our system – and solidarity will protect it.
Gustav Fridolin
We need to respect people’s motivations for learning
Adult education, speakers agreed, must go beyond qualifications. It must help people navigate the present and shape the future. Adult education offers more than skills: it builds agency, fosters connection and gives people a sense of purpose. As one of the panelists, John Evers from the Austrian Adult Education Association put it:
“Preparedness means giving people a compass. Democracy is strengthened through participation. To engage more adults in learning, it’s essential to recognise and respect people’s motivations,” Evers stated.
Learning is not just for labour market, but many adults join education programmes for personal growth, social connection, and enjoyment.
“These motives are justified and must be taken seriously if adult education is to remain relevant and accessible to a wider audience,” said Evers.
PIAAC survey reveals common barriers to learning
Accessibility and participation of underrepresented groups are vital issues in adult education, and for that, flexible learning is essential.
In her keynote at the EAEA Annual Conference on 4th June, Elif Bahar from the OECD presented findings from the 2023 Adult Skills Survey (PIAAC), which covered over 160,000 adults worldwide.
Some of the key takeaways from the survey included that adults with strong numeracy and literacy skills are more active in the labour market, earn more, and report higher wellbeing. Socio-economic background remains a strong predictor of literacy outcomes.
According to Bahar, one in four experience barriers that prevent them from participating in adult learning. The most commonly reported obstacles include lack of time due to work or family responsibilities, high costs of training, and low confidence or motivation.
To address these barriers, the OECD calls for more modular learning, better recognition of prior learning, fewer rigid entry requirements, and greater transparency and quality assurance of the learning institutions.
The audience raised some questions and challenges related to the survey. The PIAAC survey should not only generate insight but to drive real policy change. How could OECD encourage governments to invest not only in job-related training, but also in basic and transversal skills? It was also noted that PIAAC is excluding adults over 65.
“European population is aging and learning is important also in later life,” noted Dina Soeiro from the audience.
Flexible learning is essential to ensure all adults can participate fully in society.
Lauri Tuomi
Education in turbulent times
The conference also featured workshops on various topics – from amplifying the learner’s voice and strategic leadership, to integrating gender perspectives in flexible learning design and exploring the use of AI in literacy education.
Across the events, a common theme emerged: adult education must help individuals shift from passive roles to active citizens.
“In several discussions, we reflected on how we are living in strange, turbulent times – and how flexible learning is essential to ensure all adults can participate fully in society,” said EAEA President Lauri Tuomi from the Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation in closing of the events.
Whether tackling misinformation, supporting diversity, or defending democratic values, the ALE sector plays a crucial role in building a resilient, inclusive society.
“We can never rest – folkbildning is under attack,” said panelist Gustav Fridolin, referring to the budget cuts and ideological attacks on non-formal adult education in Sweden. “But solidarity built our system – and solidarity will protect it.”
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EAEA’s Annual Events are EAEA General Assembly, Annual Conference and the Grundtvig Award Ceremony. They are open to everyone interested in the latest developments in adult learning and education.
Text: Sari PohjolaPhotos: Angeliki Giannakopoulou, Sari Pohjola